Understanding Neutron Radiography Reading V-Kodak Part 2 of 3

Prevention of Water Spots
When films are removed from the wash tanks, small drops of water cling to
the surfaces of the emulsions. If the films are dried rapidly, the areas under
the drops dry more slowly than the surrounding areas. This uneven drying
causes distortion of the gelatin, changing the density of the silver image, and
results in spots that are frequently visible and troublesome in the finished
radiograph. Such "water spots" can be largely prevented by immersing the
washed films for 1 or 2 minutes in a wetting agent, then allowing the bulk of
the water to drain off before the films are placed in the drying cabinet. This
solution causes the surplus water to drain off the film more evenly, reducing
the number of clinging drops. This reduces the drying time and lessens the
number of water spots occurring on the finished radiographs.
Charlie Chong/ Fion Zhang
Radiography in Modern Industry. Rochester, NY: Eastman Kodak Co. 1980